No time of year does dinner better than Christmas and the surrounding festive season – nothing beats the festive dinner plate and especially those inevitable second helpings. Yet you can win the festive battle of the bulge while still enjoying romantic, healthy and tasty meals. The secret is to make healthy choices and to find healthy alternatives to traditional festive treats.
Mains
Bring on the traditional braai! Grilling is a very healthy cooking method, as long as food is not charred or burnt. Keep the portions small – a piece the size of the palm of your hand is sufficient. And go for leaner meat cuts.
Turkey is also a very healthy option – goose and duck is much fattier than turkey. Roast the turkey in the oven on a rack so the fat can drain away. The breast meat is the leanest bit of the turkey, so slices of skinless turkey breast is the best low fat Christmas dinner option.
Trimmings
If you can’t go without the bread or sauce, be sure to stay healthy by using low GI bread, a very small amount of butter or margarine and skim milk for sauces. And if you really want stuffing for the turkey or chicken, make your own from fat-free and fresh ingredients. Using less sugar in cooking or baking or replacing sugar with sweeteners or sweet spices is another way of finding healthier alternatives.
Sides
Salad, salad and more salad is a very good option, especially in our climate where we are almost certain that we will have warm weather around Christmas day. Keep the dressings low fat though.
Vegetables are filling and very healthy and if prepared tastily will limit overindulging with meat and carbohydrates. Fresh vegetables will not only taste better, but look better on the festive table as well.
Puds
Fresh fruit or fruit salad is the healthiest choice and fresh fruit also makes a great table decoration.
If you want to make something special but healthy, why not replace the usual ice cream with a refreshing lemon or champagne sorbet?
If you have to stick to the traditional pudding, keep the servings small and go slow on the cream or custard or find low-fat ones. And don’t drown the pudding in it, add just a splash.
Creating atmosphere
Candlelight is very flattering and always sets a good tone, whether the occasion is for two or 20 guests. And no festive dinner is complete without the right music – keep it low and in the background so as not to drown out conversation.
Then simply add people.
Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EAP) is available 24 hours a day of you wanted to know more about healthy eating.
Sources:
www.bodyandsoul.com.au
www.healthy-eating-made-easy.com
www.nutritionaustralia.org
www.merriam-webster.com